Eating germs is sometimes good for your health. Probiotics are foods and dietary supplements containing live bacteria that can restore and help maintain the natural balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria in your intestines. Various species and subspecies of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium bacteria are commonly used in probiotic formulas. Bifidus lactis a strain or subspecies of Bifidobacterium animalis. Bifidus lactis products are often labeled under the names Bifidobacterium animalis; Bifidus; or the trade names Bifidus actiregularis, Bifidus regularis, Bifidus digestivum and Bifidobacterium lactis.
Species Differences
Because names are often used interchangeably, you can't always know what species of Bifidobacterium your probiotic actually contains. Bifidus lactis differs from its relative Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies animalis very slightly. One way is its ability to survive in the presence of oxygen better. This makes Bifidus lactis a better choice to add to probiotic supplements. A 2004 study published in the "International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology" found that the subspecies animalis did not grow in milk-based media while Bifidus lactis did, even when exposed to 10 percent oxygen.
Celiac Disease
Bifidus lactis may be a treatment for the damage to the small intestines caused by celiac disease. When a person with celiac diease eats foods or supplements containing gluten -- a protein found in wheat and other cereal products -- the immune system begins destroying the parts of the small intestine that absorb food. A celiac victim is unable to get adequate nutrition from his diet. A 2008 study in published in "Clinical & Experimental Immunology" found that Bifidus lactis inhibited damage to the small intestine and helped damaged tissue recover.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome may be caused by a bacterial infection, stress, celiac disease, serotonin receptor sensitivity or diet. Regardless of the cause, Bifidus lactis may help relieve the abdominal pain, bloating and discomfort, constipation and diarrhea associated with IBS. A 2007 study published in "Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics" treated subjects diagnosed with IBS with a supplement containing Bifidus lactis (B. animalis 173 010), yogurt or placebo. The researchers found the probiotic-treated subjects had less bloating and more regular, soft bowel movements.
Constipation
Probiotics are used to treat diarrhea as well as constipation. Both conditions can result from an imbalance in the bowels' normal ratio of good and bad bacteria. In a 2009 study published in the journal "BMC Pediatrics," researchers treated 160 constipated male and female children ages 3 to 16 with a commercial probiotic formula containing Bifidobacterium lactis (also known as Bifidus lactis). The study found that after three weeks, most of the children had softened stools and more frequent bowel movements.
References
- International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology: Polyphasic Taxonomic Analysis of Bifidobacterium Animalis and Bifidobacterium Lactis reveals relatedness at the subspecies level...; Liesbeth Masco, et al.; July 2004
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Celiac Disease
- Clinical & Experimental Immunology: Live Probiotic Bifidobacterium Lactis Bacteria Inhibit the Toxic Effects Induced by Wheat Gliadin in Epithelial Cell Culture; K Lindfors, et al.; June 2008
- BMC Pediatrics: Effect of the Consumption of a Fermented Dairy Product Containing Bifidobacterium Lactis DN-173 010 on Constipation in Childhood: a Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial; Merit M Tabbers, et al.; March 2009
- Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics: Effect of a Fermented Milk Containing Bifidobacterium Animalis DN-173 010 on the health-related quality of life and symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome in adults in primary care: a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial; D Guyonnet, et al.; May 2007
Member Comments